Electric controller



21, 19 1- J. A. HEPPERLEN I 2,260,025 I ELECTRIC CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 7, 1941 w x h m re ODI b MW M V 4a 1 H Q d 4 B Patented Oct. 21, 1941 ELECTRIO CONTROLLER John A. Hepperlen, East Orange, N. J., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 7, 1941, Serial N0. 377,903

6 Claims.

My invention relates to electric controllers, more particularly to electric motor controllers enclosed in a metal box and opera-ted by means of a handle on the exterior of the door or coverof the box, and has for its object a simple and reliable means for assuring a predetermined operating connection between the handle and the parts in the interior of the box operated by the handle when the cover is swung to its closed position. 7

I have shown my invention in.one form as applied to a dial type controller in the box, which controller is provided with an operating arm. Heretofore, in controllers of this type the operating handle on the exterior of the door is directly connected to an arm on the interior of the door. This arm is provided with a-forked end which engages with a pin on the operating arm of the dial controller. it is necessary therefore to turn the handle and consequently the forked arm with considerable accuracy to an angular position'corresponding with the position of the controller arm so that when the door is closed the forked end of the operating arm will engage with the operating pin.

In one form of my invention I provide a spring pressed latch pin on the operating arm of the controller and provide an arm on the interior side of the cover connected to the handle on the 30 exterior and provided with an aperture or groove forengaging with the latch pin when the handle of Fig. 1 with the door swung open; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section showing the operating arm on the door in the proper engaging position with the controller arm after the door has been closed; Fig. 4 is a modified form of an operating arm embodying my invention; while Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the latch pin construction utilized with the arm of Fig. 4.

For purposes of clarity, the control mechanism of the controller has not been shown in detail.

It will be understood that the controller is used larly motors connected to drive printing presses. The controller parts are enclosed in a metal box or casing It! provided with a door II which can be swung on hinges I2 and I3 about a vertical axis as seen in the drawing. Inside the box is a panel l4 made of a suitable electrically insulating material such as slate or a moulded compound on which is mounted suitable control relays I5, I6 'and I1 and contactors l8 and I9. Also mounted on the panel I4 is a dial'switch or controller provided with an operating arm 2| carrying movable contacts cooperating with the series of spaced stationary contacts 22, 23 and 24. These stationary-contacts are electrically connected to suitable starting resistances located in the box behind the panel I4 and not In closing the door,

switch arm 2 shown in the drawing.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an operating connection, which may be easily engaged when the door is closed, between the bandle 25 on the exterior of the door and the ,dial The handle is mounted on a pivot shaft 26 (Fig. 3) extending through a bushing 26a mounted in the door. On the inside of the door the pivot for the handle has secured to it an operating arm 21. On the end of the arm 21, I provide a member 28 made of electrically insulating material, this member being provided with an opening, shown as a groove 29, extending radially of the arc of movement of the arm 21. Also, ,the sides of the member 28 on each side of thegroove are bevelled in parallel relation with the groove as indicated by the numerals 30, and 3| so that after the doorof the box has been closed and latched by the latching means 32,-the handle 25 can be turned from the exterior of the box until the member 28 strikes the spring pressed latch pin 33 secured to the switch arm' 2| in the box. When 40 it does this, continued movement of the handle in the control, for example, of a'motor, particu-l on the arm 2'! in the same direction causes the pin 33 to be depressed against its spring 34 by one or the other of the bevelled sides 30 or 3| depending upon the direction of rotation of the handle.- Then when the opening or groove 29 moves opposite the pin, the pin, which fits loose- 'ly between the side walls of the groove, is forced into the groove by its spring 34. The arm 21 is thus connected to the switch arm 2| in a predetermined angular relation therewith.

It will be understood that, for satisfactory operation, the pivot axis of the arms 2| and 21 must be coincident when the door of the box is closed. The member 28, by reason of the fact that it is made of electrically insulating matethe arm 27 of Figs. 2 and 3 is provided on its end with an elongated aperture 40 and the arm is bent at each side of the aperture to form bevelled edges 4| and 42 which depress the latch pin until it slips into the aperture 40, as will be understood from the description in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In .thisform of my invention i provide a stud 43 made of electrically insulating material which takes the place of the stud 36 of Fig. 3 whereby the arm 39 is electrically insulated from the arm 2| on the controller.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made and I, 'therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Y Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An'electric controller comprising a box, an

second member mounted on the interior of said member on said operating member, means biasing said latch member toward said second mem- QY ber when said door is closed, said second member being pi ovided with an opening to receive said' latch member, and means on said second I member on each side of said opening-to depress said latch member for entrance into said opening when said'handle is moved after-closure of said.

, =d0or connected to said handle, a movable latch control device in said box' having an operating arm, a door vfor said box, a handle on the exterior of said door pivotally mounted on said door, a

.second arm mounted on the interior of said door connected to said handle, a movable latch member on said operating arm, means biasing said latch member toward said second arm when said door is closed, and a member on said second arm provided with an opening to receive said arm, a door for said box, a handle on the ex terior of said door pivotally mounted on said door, a second arm mounted on the interior of said door connected to said handle, a movable latch member on said operating arm, means biasing said latch member toward said second arm when said door is closed, said second arm being provided with an opening adjacent its end to receive said latch member and with bevelled sides to depress said latch member for entrance into said opening when said handle is turned after closure of said door.

5. An electric controller comprising a box, a dial switch in said box having an operating arm, a doorfor said box pivotally attached to said box, an operating handle on the exterior of said door pivotally mounted on said door, a second arm mounted on the interior of said door connected to said handle, said handle and said second arm being mounted for movement about a pivot axis which is coincident with the pivot axis of said operating arm when said door is closed, a spring pressed latch 'pin on said operating arm, and a member made of electrically insulating material on said second arm providedwith an opening to receive said latch pin and with bevelled sides to depress said latch pin for entrance into said opening when said handle is turned after closure of said door.

6. An electric controller comprising a box, a dial switch in said box having an operatingarm, a door for said box pivotally attached to said box, an operating handle on the exterior of said door pivotally mounted on said door, a second arm mounted on the interior of said door connected to said handle, said handle and said second arm mounted on the interior of said doorf connected to said handle, a movable latch member on said operating arm means biasing said latch member toward said second arm when said door is closed, said second arm being provided with an opening adjacent its end to receive said latch member, and means on said second arm on eachside of said opening to depress said latch member for entrance into said opening when said handle is turned after closure of said door. 3. An electric controller comprising a box, a

second arm being mounted for movement about a pivot axis which is coincident with the pivot axis of said operating arm 'when said door is closed, a spring pressed latch pin mounted on i said operating arm in electrically insulated relation therewith, said second arm being provided with an opening adjacent its end to receive said latch pin and with bevelled sides to depress said latch pin for entrance-into-said opening when said handle is turned after closure of said door.

JOHN A. HEPPERLEN. 

